City of Seguin Police Chief announces retirement

Staff Reports

SEGUIN – Seguin Police Chief Terry Nichols announced today he will retire in June 2022 after a career spanning more than three decades in law enforcement and public service. 

Nichols, who joined the Seguin Police Department (SPD) in 2019 after serving as Police Chief at the City of Brownwood, prioritized community policing and took the department to new levels during his three-year tenure as Seguin’s top cop. 

“I want to thank former City Manager Doug Faseler, City Manager Steve Parker, Mayor  Keil, Mayor Dodgen and the City Council for the opportunity to lead the Seguin Police  Department. Their confidence and unwavering support of the Seguin PD has been instrumental during my time in Seguin,” said Chief Nichols. 

Nichols also said, “I am incredibly proud of the men and women of the Seguin Police Department who work tirelessly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to keep our community safe. We are blessed to have an extraordinary organization of dedicated professionals who I have had the privilege to work alongside the past three years.”  

After learning about Nichols plan to retire, Seguin City Manager Steve Parker said, “The  City has been honored to work with Chief Nichols these past three years. His commitment and dedication coupled with his servant leadership style has truly strengthened the relationship between our community and the Seguin Police Department.” 

Parker continued by saying, “I am very proud of the things that Chief Nichols has accomplished during his tenure here. I’m very confident that due to the foundation he has helped set, finding a new Police Chief will be much easier as I truly believe that Seguin is now an employer of choice. It is hard to put into words how much his fellow employees, this community and especially myself will miss Chief Nichols.” 

Nichols brought a depth of knowledge about law enforcement best practices with him to the Seguin PD. His expertise and experience as an officer, narcotics detective, sergeant, commander, and SWAT commander has helped advance the SPD, where he led over 80 sworn and civilian personnel. 

Throughout his career, Nichols has supervised hundreds of officers, led task forces and investigations, and worked with civic groups. His desire to make SPD a law enforcement agency that provides the highest caliber of police services and improves quality of life for all citizens will serve Seguin for many years to come. 

In his three years with the Seguin Police Department Nichols made a number of significant accomplishments, including: 

• Helped implement the first full-time mental health officer position in partnership with community stakeholders including the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and Bluebonnet Trails Community Services. Funded by a grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the  Mental Health Officer (MHO) helps those in crisis access medical treatment.  
• Served as a founding member of the Seguin Community Coalition that was created in response to the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minnesota. Nichols led the Department’s ongoing commitment for transparency, community engagement, and outreach to all members of the Seguin community. 
• Implemented a body-worn camera program for the Department to increase trust, transparency and evidence documentation. 
• Under Nichols’ leadership, the department partnered with the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office to create the award-winning Guadalupe County Narcotics Task Force that was honored as the Narcotics Unit of the Year in 2021 by the Texas Narcotics Officers Association.  
• Chief Nichols also helped improve departmental training by establishing a character based leadership development program for all supervisors and field training officers. In addition, he initiated integrated active threat training with the Police Department and Fire Department, including surrounding agencies, to ensure a coordinated response to a critical  mass casualty incident.
• Oversaw the Re-Recognition of the Department for the Texas Chiefs of Police Recognition Program in 2021.  
• Oversaw the renovation and enhancement of the Police Department’s radio infrastructure and 911 Communications Division in partnership with the Information and Technology Department.  
• Nichols worked with the City’s Grants Manager to secure numerous grants including Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) from the Office of the Governor for equipment, Mental Health Officer from Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), De-Escalation Grant from the Department of Justice COPS Office, Victim’s Assistance Grant from the Office of the Governor and the Office of the Attorney General, and a Southwest Rural Border Law Enforcement Assistance Program Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.  

Mayor Donna Dodgen praised Chief Nichols and the strides he made while leading the department. “Chief Nichols has embraced 21st century policing, and our City and police department are better for it,” she said. “Under Chief’s command, our officers have the resources they need to keep residents safe while continuing to hone their skills as law enforcement professionals. We hope Chief Nichols enjoys a happy and well-deserved  retirement with his family,” she said. 

“It is bittersweet retiring from law enforcement leaving such a wonderful group and organization, said Nichols. “We will certainly cherish the memories, life-long friends, and colleagues we are leaving behind in this wonderful community that so richly embraced us from day one,” said Chief Nichols. 

Nichols and his wife, Nicky, are looking forward to re-locating to the Texas Gulf Coast upon his retirement. 

The search for Seguin’s next police chief will commence in the coming weeks.